[Reference: The Zheng He Voyages: A Reassessment - Geoff Wade (2004) - Asia Research Institute Working Paper Series No. 31.]

1409

King Ramaracha quarrelled and ordered the arrest of one of his principal ministers, a certain Chao Senabodi, probably the commander of the Ayutthayan army. The minister fled to Suphanburi, and appealed for the assistance of Prince Nakhon In, the Governor of Suphan and a nephew of King Borommaracha I. The Prince proceeded to Ayutthaya, seized King Ramaracha, and forced him to abdicate. He then proclaimed himself King, with the title of King Intharacha I - 6th King of Ayutthaya. It is at this moment in history that the U-Thong dynasty disappeared from the political scene to be replaced by the House of Suphan. In the Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya we read that Chao Senabodi had brought Prince Nakhon In into Ayutthaya from Suphanburi and had succeeded him in entering the Royal Palace. Once crowned Intharacha bestowed rewards on Chao Phraya Maha Senabodi being a daughter of a royal concubine, a pair of gold trays of rank, a pair of pedestalled gold salvers, a gold lotus water-goblet, a two-edged sword, an ivory palanquin and a lotus-penal palanquin.

[Reference: The Zheng He Voyages: A Reassessment - Geoff Wade (2004) - Asia Research Institute Working Paper Series No. 31.]

1411

Following the death of King Saen Müang Ma of Chieng Mai a succession dispute arose between his sons, Prince Sam Fang Kaen and his older brother Prince Yi Kumkam, Governor of Chieng Saen. Prince Yi Kumkam raised an army and marched on Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai sent its army out and Prince Yi Kumkam's army was routed. He retreated to Sukhothai and appealed Siam for aid. An army, commanded by the vassal King Mahathammaracha III of Sukhothai, was dispatched to Chieng Mai to place Prince Yi Kumkam on the throne. The Siamese first invested Phayao, but failed to take it. The Siamese erected a mound twenty-four yards high and a stockade in order to shoot into the city with guns. The Phayao defenders melted down the brass tiles on one of their temples and made a five-inch cannon, with which they destroyed the Siamese fort. The Siamese abandoned the siege of Phayao, went on to Chiang Rai, came down to Fang in order to take Chiang Mai. The Ayutthayans laid siege to the City of Chiang Mai, which fiercely resisted all attempts to take it. Finally Sam Fang Kaen, the young King of Chiengmai, suggested that the succession dispute should be settled by trial in a single combat under the rule of “first blood”. Each side had to appoint a champion. If the Siamese champion won, King Fang Kaen would abdicate in favour of his brother; if not Prince Yi Kumkam would abandon his claim. Terms were accepted and the two champions fought for several hours without result, but at last the Siamese champion received a scratch on his big toe, and was adjudged the loser. Consequently, the Sukhothai army withdrew from Chiang Mai although northwards, and attacked the town of Chieng Rai. Chieng Rai was captured and a large number of prisoners were taken back to Ayutthaya. Prince Yi Kumkam became Governor of Muang Sarng.

[Reference: The Zheng He Voyages: A Reassessment - Geoff Wade (2004) - Asia Research Institute Working Paper Series No. 31.]

1416

27 May 1416 - Ming envoy, eunuch Guo Wen, leads a maritime voyage to Ayutthaya (with the aim to control trade and execute political and economic control).

[Ref: The Zheng He Voyages: A Reassessment - Geoff Wade (2004) - Asia Research Institute Working Paper Series No. 31.]

1419

In 1419 King Mahathammaracha III of Sukhothai died. Two brothers claimed the throne and serious disturbances occurred. King Intharacha of Ayutthaya advanced to Nakhon Sawan with his army to restore the order in his vassal state. The show of force was sufficient and the two parties, Phraya Ban Muang and Phraya Ram, arranged their differences. The brother of King Mahathammaracha III ascended the throne as Mahathammaracha IV of Sukhothai.

[Reference: The Zheng He Voyages: A Reassessment - Geoff Wade (2004) - Asia Research Institute Working Paper Series No. 31.]

1424

Death of King Intharacha and throne ascendancy of King Borommaracha II - 7th King of Ayutthaya. King Intharacha had three sons. Prince Ai Phraya was ruler of Suphanburi, Prince Yi Phraya was ruler in Sanburi, while Prince Sam Phraya lived in Chainat. On their father's death, the two elder sons fought for the throne. Both princes engaged each other in personal combat, mounted on elephant, at the foot of the “charcoal forest” bridge (Saphan Pa Than) near the city gates of Ayutthaya. Both were badly wounded and died from the combat. The youngest brother, Chao Sam Phraya was then proclaimed King under the title of Borommaracha II. Borommaracha II commanded two chedis built on the site where his brothers engaged in combat. These chedis are still visible today in central Ayutthaya on the crossing of Naresuan Rd (former Pa Than Rd) and the Chikun Rd, opposite Wat Rachaburana. The latter was built by Borommaracha II on the cremation site of his brothers.

War broke out with the Khmer. King Borommaracha II invaded the Khmer Kingdom and invested the capital of Angkor, which was taken after a siege of seven months. The King of Cambodia, Dharmasoka, died during the siege. King Borommaracha II set up his own son, the Prince of Nakhon In' (Inthaburi) as ruler of Cambodia. The Siamese King removed two Khmer princes, Phraya Kaeo and Phraya Thai, and their families to Ayutthaya, next to a large number of sacred images of lions and oxen.

The Prince of Inthaburi, died shortly after the retreat of the Siamese army (according to Cambodian history he was murdered). A Cambodian Prince, Ponhea Yat or Gam Yat, was appointed King, with the title of Borommarachathirat Ramathibodi apparently without opposition on the part of the Siamese. The new King begins his reign at Angkor, but in 1433 moves his court to Basan and one year later to Phnom Penh.

Siamese history recalls Malacca was "subjected" to Sukhothai since the time of King Ramkhamhaeng and subsequently, after Sukhothai was subjugated, to Ayutthaya. Ayutthaya's control was although more or less of a shadowy nature and by far not very effective. It does not appear in history that Singapura, Malacca, Perak, Johor, Pahang or Rhio or any Malay States founded by emigrants from Sumatra, ever were really subject to Siam during the long interval from 1160, when Singapura was first settled, up to the period of the conquest of Malacca by the Portuguese in 1511. On the contrary there is proof, that the Malays successfully maintained their position and frequently repelled the attempts of the Siamese.

In 1445 news reached Ayutthaya that Malacca was a prosperous city, not subjected to Siam. The King of Siam sent an envoy to Malacca to demand a letter of submission. Sultan Muzaffar Shah (r. 1445 - 1459) refused to own his allegiance to Siam and the King of Siam ordered an expedition for the invasion of Malacca over land via Pahang. The Sultan gave orders that all men of the outlying districts be assembled and come up river to Malacca. Both parties engaged in a battle for a long time, but Malacca was not subdued.

King Borommaracha II died in 1448. According to the "Yum Phai", an ancient poem, he died during a campaign. King Tilokaracha of Lan Na Thai, around that time, undertook two expeditions to take Prae and Nan. The governor of Nan, Phraya Kenyhao fled to Ayutthaya to seek for aid. King Borommaracha II presumably responded to this appeal, but died before he and his army had time to proceed very far. Prince Ramesuen, the Governor of Phitsanulok, became King and assumed the title of Borommatrailokanat, the 8th King of Ayutthaya.

King Borommatrailokanat handed over the Royal palace of his predecessors to be converted into the Phra Sri Sanphet Monastery. He established a new royal residence, the Bencarat Palace, on the banks of the Lopburi river, just north of the former palace. He cremated the remains of King Ramathibodi I, which had been kept embalmed and constructed the Phra Ram Monastery On the cremation site and a pagoda to enshrine the ashes of the monarch.

In 1451 Phraya Yuthit Thira, the Governor of Sawankhalok, Ayutthaya's northern outpost, broke away from Ayutthaya and joined Lan Na Thai. He requested King Tilokaracha of Chiang Mai for assistance, offering to become tributary to him. Lan Na Thai dispatched immediately an army to the south. The Lao advanced party under Mun Harn Nakorn was repulsed by surprise at Chalieng, north of Sukhothai. King Tilokaracha was about to attack the advancing Ayutthayan army, when he received news of Luang Prabang's incursion at Chieng Saen, his northern capital. The news of the incursion caused the Lao army to return. A second Chiang Mai army was sent to Chakangrao (Kamphaengphet). The city was captured and annexed for a time to the Chieng Mai dominions.

In 1455, during the reign of King Borommatrailokanat, a naval military expedition was sent to Malacca. Sultan Muzaffar Shah (r. 1445 - 1459) readied his naval forces and repelled the attack near Batu Pahat (Hewn Stone), a few miles south of Malacca. The Siamese were vigorously opposed by the Malays and finally retreated in 1456.

In 1463, King Borommatrailokanat moved the royal throne to Phitsanulok in order to cope with the incursions from Chiangmai and put his elder son as Regent of Ayutthaya with the title Borommaracha III. Prince Intharacha, his younger son, accompanied him to Phitsanulok. The latter remained the capital of Siam for about twenty-five years.

In 1463 King Tilokaracha invaded Siam again and sent an army to take Sukhothai. King Borommatrailokanat and Prince Intharacha reacted from Phitsanulok. The eldest son of the King, the regent Borommaracha III attacked and routed the forces of Phraya Thian. He engaged Mun Nakhon's troops and fought a duel on elephant with Mun Nakhon. The Chiang Mai army was repulsed and the Siamese advance guard caught up the Chieng Mai army near Doi Ba. The young Prince Intharacha, accompanied by the Governors of Kamphaeng Phet and Sukhothai, attacked four elephants ridden by the ex-Governor of Sawankhalok and three noted Chiengmai warriors. Prince Intharacha and his companions were driven down, on their elephants, into a swamp, and the prince received an arrow wound in the face. They were finally forced to retreat and rejoined the main army of King Borommatrailokanat. Both parties ended their campaign and returned.

King Borommatrailokokanat entered the monk hood at Chula Mani Monastery for an 8-month period in 1465. He was accompanied by more than 2,000 followers. Neighbouring potentates sent envoys to attend the ordination ceremony. The King of Chiang Mai dispatched an ambassador to Phitsanulok, accompanied by twelve priests of great sanctity to assist at his ordination.

A third son was born to King Borommatrailokanat in 1472 and named Prince Jettha. He will become King in 1491 with the title of Ramathibodi II. He descended through his mother from the Royal Family of Sukhothai.

In 1474 the Siamese King invaded the Chiang Mai territories, attacked Chiengjuen and killed the governor Mun Kwaen. The Siamese army seized also Chalieng (Sawankhalok). King Tilokaracha succeeded in recapturing Chiengjuen, but Sawankhalok remained in the hands of the Siamese. In 1475 the King of Chiang Mai Tilokaracha asked to establish friendly relations. Although nothing appears to have been settled, open hostilities ceased for several years.

In 1484 King Borommatrailokanat's youngest son, Prince Jettha, together with the eldest son of King Borommaracha III, were ordained as monks. They left the priesthood the following year and Prince Jettha was appointed Maha Uparat.

King Borommaracha III captured Tavoy in 1488. (Following the history writer William Wood, it was not certain whether Tavoy at that time was an independent principality or was subjected to Siam and had rebelled.)

In 1488 King Borommatrailokanat passed away at Phitsanulok at the age of fifty-seven. He was succeeded by his son known as King Borommaracha III, regent of Ayutthaya and 9th King of Ayutthaya. Phitsanulok ceased to be the capital. (William Wood writes that according to some versions of Siamese history, King Borommatrailokanat died in 1465 when he left the priesthood. He was succeeded by his son Intharacha, who reigned for 22 years. King Intharacha was in turn succeeded by his son (not brother) Ramathibodi II.)

King Borommaracha III died in 1491 at the age of around forty-five. Prince Jettha succeeded his brother King Borommaracha III and assumed the title of King Ramathibodi II - 10th King of Ayutthaya. Born in 1472, he was nineteen years old when he ascended the throne.

In 1492 King Ramathibodi II erect two pagodas at Wat Sri Sanphet to enshrine the ashes of his father, King Borommatrailokanat and his elder brother, King Borommaracha III. These chedis still can be seen today.

Khlong Samrong was redug in 1498 during the reign of King Ramathibodi II. The canal connected the Bangpakong River with the Chao Phya River below Khlong Toey, broadening an existing natural canal to allow the passage of ships,